Recycle Utah

Nonprofit Summit County, Utah Recycling Center

zerowaste@recycleutah.org

Dark Skies

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Have you ever visited a major city where you’ve looked up and seen a murky sky without stars? What you’re seeing is light pollution, a serious problem in populated places, although experts claim that increased light pollution may impact even remote areas if initiatives to reduce it are not taken seriously.

Light pollution occurs when an excess of light is reflected into the atmosphere causing the sky to illuminate, potentially to the point that stars are invisible. It sadly has many consequences for ecosystems, climate, and human health. First, unnecessary light translates to wasted energy, and the amount of carbon emitted into the atmosphere will increase from creating this wasted energy. A study by the International Dark-Sky Association states, “The average house with poorly designed outdoor lighting wastes 0.5 kilowatt hours (kWh) per night… enough energy to power a 50-inch plasma TV for one hour or run one load in your dishwasher!”

Additionally, light pollution disrupts the Earth’s consistent shift from day to night, which all organisms rely on – nocturnal behavior is especially disrupted. Excessive light also causes extreme living conditions for plants to photosynthesize, threatening the foundation of entire ecosystems. Will organisms evolve like they always have? Or, has human impact potentially reached a point where our ecological changes are exceeding the rate of natural processes to adapt and evolve.

Finally, too much artificial light is unnatural for humans and can disrupt sleep and our health. While we can’t reverse what’s already been done, it is an easy fix to minimize human impact on light pollution moving forward. So, what’s the solution?

1.       Ensure that lighting products are “Dark Sky Approved.”
2.       Turn off lights when they’re not needed.
3.       Contain and shield outside lights to shine downwards in concentration.
4.       Use solid-state lighting, such as LED lights.
5.       Use dimmers, timers, and motion sensors for outdoor lights. 

Park City is taking the initiative to protect our dark skies. On January 1, 2021, Park City’s City Council adopted the No. 2021-05 Ordinance, requiring all existing outdoor lighting bulbs to be 3,000 degrees Kelvin by December 31, 2024, and new construction to produce less than 100,000 lumens (light) per acre. Additionally, the amendment states, “Low-lumen seasonal lights that do not cause light trespass or interfere with the reasonable use and enjoyment of property are permitted from November 1 – March 1.”

So let there be light! Just make sure that it’s sustainable and efficient for your sake, wildlife, healthy ecosystems, and our skies.

By Grason Rae, Sophomore at Park City High School

Chemicals and Hazardous Waste

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Water quality should be a focus as much as water quantity in Utah and beyond. As we slowly plasticize our world, we need to have more concern about the chemicals that surround us. How can we better select our food, cleaners, body products, house décor, and clothing? Our society is immersed in chemicals; most of us carry microplastics in our blood.

One organization that enhances awareness around chemicals is The Environmental Working Group (EWG at ewg.org). This reputable organization researches the safety and efficacy of chemicals in our food and health products. EWG provides guides to healthy foods, body products, and cleaners, in addition to specific information on pesticides, bees, cancer, and more, are superb. Simply type in your product and see how it ranks!

  1. SUNSCREEN: Most conventional sunscreens have several chemicals of concern with Oxybenzone, a hormone disruptor, being the primary one. Know your sunscreen.
  • CLEANING MATERIALS: Comet, tub and tile cleaner, 409… the list goes on. Nix them all for vinegar and baking soda; research natural recipes online. What about Drano? Use a snake for the toilet and special device found at local hardware stores for smaller drains.
  • FOOD: EWG’s “Dirty Dozen” list ranks produce with the highest quantity of pesticides to the lowest. Not everybody can afford to buy everything organic. For example, strawberries and spinach should be organic, but avocadoes and onions are not as important. Learn the list.

When toxic materials like mercury, lead, and pesticides end up in the landfill they leach into the ground, our water supply and possibly into your drinking water. Hazardous Waste includes items like paints, solvents, chemicals, fertilizers, oil, herbicides and more. To protect our water and local environment, it’s very important that these items are properly disposed of. Do not pour hazardous items down the drain or into the toilet, and remember if you don’t want to drink it.. don’t dump it! Click here to learn more about proper disposal of Household Hazardous Waste.

Intrinsically, think about what you’d like to be in your drinking water. Can you eliminate chemical-laden products from your household? If not, then at least dispose of them properly, which does not mean in the trash, sink, or toilet. When household hazardous wastes, such as pesticides or paints, are disposed of in the landfill, they can leach into our precious ground water.

Protect our water system by thinking before you buy and before you toss. Together, we can sustain our water system for generations to come.

By Mary Closser

Empowering the Next Generation: How to Talk to Kids About Climate Change

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As a kid, I don’t remember getting much of a formal environmental education. My “environmental education” came from my experiences hiking and skiing, gaping over miles of mountains, or kneeling on the ground, peering at rocks and bugs. These experiences filled my heart with a deep love for this world from an early age, and when I went to college, it seemed a natural choice to study the environment. Within a semester, I was experiencing the most profound form of heartbreak I can imagine. My despair weighed on me so heavily that I almost decided to change my course of study. I went to my faculty advisor, asking how I could possibly go into the future hoping to make change when there was so much information that makes our future look hopeless. He described a spectrum, with hope on one side and fear on the other. If we lie too far on the side of hope, we become complacent and fail to take action. If we are far on the side of fear, we become paralyzed and deem any action to be fruitless. We must try to balance ourselves solidly in the middle. 

At Recycle Utah, we aren’t hiding the urgency of our situation from our students. We teach about our landfill filling up, about our decreased snowfall, and about growing air pollution. But we also finish every lesson with solutions, with hope. What can you do? What are other people doing? It’s important that kids can identify what they’re seeing in real life, but also know how to take action, and that there are solutions to our environmental issues. That they have agency, even if they aren’t an adult yet. If I had this kind of education growing up, I doubt I would have experienced the shock and despair that I did in my first semester of college. I would have known that yes, our world is in crisis, but that there are things we can do, things that can help turn the situation around. 

So, what can you do, as a parent or an educator, to prepare little ones for a life in a changing world? Take your kids outside. Point out changes in precipitation and temperature; try to help them notice changes in patterns. If they are older, ask them what they think this might mean. Let them learn from their senses and really get to know the world around them. And then infuse their world with hope. Look for good news, for stories that exhibit people taking action in the face of climate change. Stories of people thinking creatively, people thinking outside the box, and people taking small action to change their immediate environment. Look for local action that you can take to change your small piece of the world, a change that kids can notice. Prepare them for what they will inevitably see as they grow up. Prepare them to think creatively and to act with responsibility and care for their home. When I think about the hope and fear spectrum, the biggest beacon of hope I see every day is in kids. If we prepare them for their future on our changing planet, then I truly believe that we can all create a world we are proud to call ours.

By Chelsea Hafer

The Great Salt Lake

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Utah is an other-worldly place. Our snow-covered mountains, our lush rolling hills, and our stunning red rocks are only some of the plethora of natural phenomena that can be found in Utah. In Park City, we are blessed with having the mountains on our doorstep, and with the recreation and scenery that that brings. However, just next door, the Great Salt Lake is drying up, and if current progress occurs, it will mean terrible consequences for all of us. The Great Salt Lake is the largest saltwater lake in the Western Hemisphere, but it has already shrunk to two-thirds of its original size. Some of the consequences can already be seen; with the water content decreasing, the lake’s salt percentage has increased, destabilizing the natural balance that provides the conditions in which algae and brine shrimp live. If this continues there will be no more food supply for the migratory birds in the area, causing us to see more and more wildlife decline. 

The most immediate threat is that if the Great Salt Lake is to dry up completely, the lakebed will be exposed. The lakebed contains arsenic and other heavy metals, either naturally occurring or from mining efforts in the surrounding area. Experts have warned that wind can carry these toxic particles into Salt Lake City and the surrounding areas. These toxic dust clouds would pollute the air we breathe and cause a massive health concern. The Wasatch Front has grown exponentially in the past few years and is one of the fastest-growing areas in the country. This means that more water is needed for consumption and other utilities, as well as Utah’s booming agricultural businesses, all resulting in less overall water flowing from rivers into the Great Salt Lake. Not only does population growth increase the threats, but so does climate change. Rising temperatures mean more water is evaporating and less water is flowing down to the Great Salt Lake. Additionally, without water, snowfall will also decrease rapidly in the mountains, taking away one of our favorite activities: skiing. 

The problem is undeniable; the Great Salt Lake is drying up and unless Utahns try to conserve it, we will face a terrifying public health and resource disaster. Environmental activists have made efforts to raise more attention to the problem and ignite action. On September 6th, 2023, a lawsuit was filed against the state of Utah, demanding that they act. However, there is much more Utahns can do to save our home. Utah needs to greatly lower its water usage to make an impact. History has shown that when humans unite to achieve a common goal, we can create positive change and address even the most challenging obstacles.

By Grayson Rae, Sophomore at Park City High School

Eco-Friendly Dishwashing by Machine and by Hand

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Is it necessary to rinse off dirty dishes before putting them in the dishwasher to assure they are clean and bacteria-free? Resoundingly, experts say, it is not. The practice wastes water and energy; it adds dollars to our utility bills.

Many of us who continue to lightly rinse gunky dishes first may be living in the past. In the past, it was recommended to rinse excess food off dishes before loading them. I don’t think using a little more water and electricity was forefront in people’s minds.

Today energy-efficient machines use a mere four to six gallons of water to clean a load of dishes. Obviously, if we’re trying to live sustainably— to not waste ever-more limited natural resources—we need to “fill ‘er up.” What things make sense to run full loads with best results?

  • Reportedly, dishwashing detergent works best when it has some food particles to stick to. Without them, soap runs off dishes and ends up down the drain. Also, today’s machines are made to work hard—to power through soiled gunky dishes. We shouldn’t let them get lazy and work with less power than they have built in.
  • Getting a full load doesn’t always happen daily or even every other day. If necessary, soiled dishes can sit in the dishwasher for a few days—one source stated for a week—and come out sparkling. Here’s where a quick light rinse makes sense. Small households, rest assured. Your dishes can be cleaned after extended “sit” time.
  • To all dishwasher users, you are responsible for cleaning the drain filter regularly.

Hand-washing dishes? Try this eco-friendly method: Add a bit of dishwashing detergent to a clean sink. In a container, capture the water that runs while it gets hot and use it later to rinse dishes and water plants. Add a half an index finger of water and use it to clean a meal-full of dishes rinsing no more than 3 seconds per dish. When you’re done, measure the water in the sink. How much higher on your finger does it rise? With practice, I can see I am using less water. Maybe it’s that two second rinse!

By Bev Harrison

Textile Recycling for A Sustainable Future of Fashion

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The escalating issue of textile waste, with millions of pounds ending up in landfills annually, has sparked a significant movement towards recycling fabrics. In the United States alone, an individual averages 70 pounds of textile waste per year, yet only a small fraction is currently recycled. This calls for an urgent shift towards more sustainable practices, with the potential to yield substantial environmental, economic, and social benefits.

By recycling textiles, we conserve precious landfill space and significantly reduce the demand for new materials, which in turn saves water, cuts down petroleum use, and lowers the emission of harmful chemicals from traditional production processes. Economically, textile recycling diminishes disposal costs and bolsters the economy by retaining valuable materials within the supply chain through the repurposing of recycled fibers into new products. Socially, the initiative extends beyond environmental and economic gains, providing essential items to those in need and encouraging creativity and innovation through the upcycling of materials. This holistic approach to recycling not only addresses the urgent need for waste reduction but also fosters a more sustainable, inclusive, and creative society.

Efforts are underway to combat the challenges of textile recycling, such as the complexity of processing blended materials and the lack of advanced recycling technology. Massachusetts and the EU are leading initiatives to improve textile recycling infrastructure, aiming for a more sustainable future.

An estimated 95% of used textiles can be recycled, even if they are damaged. Consumers can play a crucial role by donating to charities, using take-back programs, and supporting retailers that offer recycling incentives. Brands like H&M, the North Face, and Levi Strauss are making it easier for consumers to recycle textiles, offering discounts or credits in return.

The journey towards effective textile recycling is filled with challenges, but the collective efforts of governments, businesses, and individuals can make a significant difference. By embracing sustainable practices, we can reduce the environmental impact of textile waste and pave the way for a greener future. 

By Chelsea Hafer